Many parents unaware of how to install car seats

Police said a car seat may have saved the life of the one year-old girl involved in Sunday night’s car crash on Central and Louisiana. The crash killed two people. The driver is in critical condition.

KOB Eyewitness News 4 found out the majority of parents doesn’t know how to install a car seat or a booster seat.

APD said it’s a miracle the little girl survived with just minor injuries, and said many parents don’t even read car seat manuals.

At least 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly. “It’s going to be very dangerous to any child. We see this happen time and time again,” said Mark McCracken with Safer New Mexico Now.

But in Sunday’s crash, police believe that car seat saved the little girl’s life.

“If your child is an infant seat they are going to ride out a crash,” added McCracken.

McCracken said the best advice is to keep your child in a rear facing seat as long as possible; at least until they’re 2 years old, that’s when they can face forward. Another pointer is to make sure the car seat is fastened tightly.

“If your seat moves more than an inch side to side or forward and back, then it’s too loose,” said McCracken.

New Mexico law requires that a child under 7 years-old or 60 pounds needs to be in a car seat or a booster seat, or 12 years-old if the seat belt doesn’t fit.

McCracken said parents should consider purchasing a car seat that can hold up to 65 pounds.

Safer New Mexico Now will have an event on Friday at Target on Paseo del Norte from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for any parents who want to get their car seats looked at.